Tricycle having driving energy storing arrangement

ABSTRACT

A tricycle for a child to ride upon, the tricycle including a frame supported at its rear end upon a pair of rear wheels mounted on a rear axle, the front end of the frame being supported upon a steering column supported upon a single front wheel, the steering wheel being controlled in direction by handle bars, the device including foot pedals for winding up a pair of springs for giving driving power to the rear wheels, and the handle bars when pushed forwardly acting as a level for a set of brakes.

United States Eatent m1 Sidlauskas [54] TRICYCLE HAVING DRIVING ENERGYSTORING ARRANGEMENT [76] Inventor: Donald M. Sidlauskas, 3950 NW. 32ndTerrace, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33309 [22] Filed: Aug. 11, 1971 [21]Appl. No.: 170,897

[52] U.S. Cl ..280/2l5, 280/282 [51] Int. Cl. ..B62m 1/10 [58] Field ofSearch ..280/215, 212, 289,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Silver ..280/2l5 Cashner..280/264 1 May 22, 1973 1,612,739 12/1926 Matsumoto ..280/215 2,168,4408/1939 Dole ..280/l50 A X 2,793,877 5/1957 Meier ..280/293 3,284,096 11/1966 Hansen et al.... ..280/289 3,096,100 7/1963 Clarke et a1..280/282 Primary ExaminerKenneth H. Betts [57] ABSTRACT A tricycle fora child to ride upon, the tricycle including a frame supported at itsrear end upon a pair of rear wheels mounted on a rear axle, the frontend of the frame being supported upon a steering column supported upon asingle front wheel, the steering wheel being controlled in direction byhandle bars, the device including foot pedals for winding up a pair ofsprings for giving driving power to the rear wheels, and the handle barswhen pushed forwardly acting as a level for a set of brakes.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED HAY 2 2 I975 /A/ l EA/ Toe TRICYCLEHAVING DRIVING ENERGY STORING ARRANGEMENT This invention relatesgenerally to childrens vehicles.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a tricyclethat is designed to do a wheelie by pushing forward on a set of handlebars so to act as a lever for a set of brakes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wheelie whichembodies the latest and contemporary concepts of motorcycling andautomobile racing.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a wheeliewhich will promote enjoyable activity for a child and which iscompletely safe.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a wheelie which issimple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction,easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation view thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral representsa wheelie according to the present invention wherein there is a frame 11which at its rear end is supported upon a rear axle 12, the rear axlebeing mounted upon a pair of spaced apart rear wheels 13. The forwardend of the frame 11 is supported upon a steering column 14 of tubularcharacter which is supported upon a steering post 15 which upon itsupper end incorporates a set of handle bars 16 and which at its lowerend is biforcated and supported upon a front wheel 17.

A foot pedal mechanism 18 is carried by the frame 11 and which includesa sprocket 19 for driving an endless sprocket chain 20 that is alsopassed around a sprocket 21 on the rear shaft 12.

A pair of coil springs 22 are fitted around the rear axle 12 and whichserve as a driving power for the vehicle after becoming wound up.

The present vehicle also incorporates a pair of wheel brakes 23.

The tricycle is designed to do a wheelie by pushing forward on thehandle bars which act as a lever for the brakes. Operating the pedalscan wind up the springs 22 so that they store up driving energy. Bypulling back on the handle bars the brakes are released by linkage 23which releases the spring thus causing a forward energy to betransmitted to the rear wheels.

An off balance situation occurs causing the seat 24 to lean backwards,the front wheel to raise up on the rear axle pivot point. This motioncontinues until it is arrested by the leaf spring 25 at the rear of theseat 24.

A minor wheel 27 fastened within the leaf spring assists in the forwardmotion caused by the unwinding of the spring in the rear wheels. As theenergy is expended, the forwardmotion of the wheelie is slackened andthe rider leans forward to repeat the cycle.

It is to be noted that a ratchet device is designed within the wheelieso to allow for either a normal cycle or a wheelie use of the device.

It is to be noted that in the present construction, the drive shaft oraxle 12 is independent of the wheels rotationally. One end of the coilsprings 22 are welded to the shaft and the opposite ends of the springs22 are welded to the wheels 13.

A pivot 26 permits the forward pivoting for the brakes and the backwardsmotion for the wheelie.

A wheelie may be performed by winding the integral springs. Pushingforward causes the off center characteristics and leaning the wheeliebackwards so to cause the forward motion.

Restraint may be accomplished by forward motion of the front wheeloperating the brake and then causing the spring to be wound by a crank.

What I now claim is:

1. In a wheelie, the combination of a vehicle incorporating a framewhich at its rear end is supported upon a transverse rear axle, saidrear axle being supported upon a pair of spaced apart rear wheels, afront end of said frame being supported pivotally free upon a steeringcolumn fitted on a steering post which at its upper end is provided witha pair of handle bars and at its lower end thereof being supported upona single front wheel, said frame supporting a pedal mechanism for beingoperated by a riders feet, said frame carrying a seat located in frontof a leaf spring which has a minor wheel fastened thereto, said foodpedal mechanism including a sprocket integral with foot pedals, saidsprocket having an endless sprocket chain attached therearound andaround another sprocket mounted upon said rear axle, each of said rearwheels being mounted rotationally free upon said rear axle, a pair ofcoil springs being fitted around said rear axle, one end of each of saidsprings being welded to said rear shaft, and the opposite ends of saidcoil springs being welded to said rear wheels, said vehicleincorporating a pair of brake units, each one of which serves to brakeone of the said rear wheels when said handle bars are pushed forwardlyto hold the vehicle while the springs are being wound by the pedalmechanism prior to release.

1. In a wheelie, the combination of a vehicle incorporating a framewhich at its rear end is supported upon a transverse rear axle, saidrear axle being supported upon a pair of spaced apart rear wheels, afront end of said frame being supported pivotally free upon a steeringcolumn fitted on a steering post which at its upper end is provided witha pair of handle bars and at its lower end thereof being supported upona single front wheel, said frame supporting a pedal mechanism for beingoperated by a rider''s feet, said frame carrying a seat located in frontof a leaf spring which has a minor wheel fastened thereto, said foodpedal mechanism including a sprocket integral with foot pedals, saidsprocket having an endless sprocket chain attached therearound andaround another sprocket mounted upon said rear axle, each of said rearwheels being mounted rotationally free upon said rear axle, a pair ofcoil springs being fitted around said rear axle, one end of each of saidsprings being welded to said rear shaft, and the opposite ends of saidcoil springs being welded to said rear wheels, said vehicleincorporating a pair of brake units, each one of which serves to brakeone of the said rear wheels when said handle bars are pushed forwardlyto hold the vehicle while the springs are being wound by the pedalmechanism prior to release.